Amalgamating cylinder



March 2, 1937. E. L. FOSTER AMALGAMATING CYLINDER Filed April 29, 1936 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventm March 2, 1937. WE. L. FOSTER 2,072,498-

AMALGAMATING CYLINDER Filed April 29, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HIHII q l Il 7 l|| Q Inventm E. 2. Fave March 2, 1937. L FOSTER 2,072,498

AMALGAMAT ING CYL INDER Filed April 29, 1936 4 Shets-Sheet 3 Inventor E.L fisher Maz ch 2, 1937.. E. L. FOSTER 2,072,498

AMALGAMATING CYLINDER Filed April 29, 1936- 4 Sheet-Sheet 4 InvenflorL.fbwf@w Mm? lomeys Patented Mar. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlQEAM'ALGAMATING CYLINDER Edwin L. Foster, Long Beach, Calif.

Application April 29, 1936, Serial No. 77,059

4 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to amalgamators and has for its object toprovide an improved amalgamating cylinder.

In accordance with the present invention pro- 5 vision is made whereby afresh, clean coat of amalgam or mercury is maintained on the face orperiphery of the roller at all times and while in operation, therebyimproving materially a device of this character, since heretofore afterthe 10 amalgam plate or cylinder was used a short time it became dirtyand dead, and without sufficient clean amalgam to contact the gold forany useful purpose.

The present invention together with its objects 15 and advantages willbe best understood from a study of the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings where- 1n:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an amalga- 20 mating cylinder for usein an amalgamator, and

in horizontal position.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cylinder.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view thereof.

25 Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view through the cylinder.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail sectional view illustrating certaindetails hereinafter more fully referred to.

30 Figure 6 is a fragmentary detail sectional view showing the manner ofsecuring one end of the spirally wound wire.

Figure '7 is an elevational view of an amalgamating cylinder for use ina vertical position.

35 Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through the verticalamalgamating cylinder.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the vertical amalgamating cylinder, and

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken substan- 40 tially on the line Ill-lof Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals it will be seen that ineach form thereof the amalgamating cylinder comprises a hollowcylindrical body formed of suitable material and 45 having welded orotherwise secured within its respective opposite ends plates or disks 6.

The plates or disks 6 have formed integral therewith pintles 1 adaptedto be journaled in suitable bearings provided therefor in the amal- 50gamator (not shown).

Further in each form of the invention there is spirally wound on theperiphery of the cylinder 5 a wire 8 the respective opposite ends ofwhich are anchored to the cylinder through the medium 55 of screws orsimilar fastening elements 9. The

wire 8 is for the purpose of spreading over the periphery of the rollerthe mercury contents l0 thereof.

The roller illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive is of a typeparticularly designed for use in 5 the amalgamator in a horizontalposition, and may be, and preferably is, mounted for revolving movementin the amalgamator.

This horizontally used amalgamating cylinder is provided in one of theend plates 6 with a filling opening normally closed through the mediumof a plug H.

Also the horizontal amalgamating cylinder is adapted to contain thereinthe mercury iii, and from the interior of the cylinder the mercury oramalgam, which latter is preferably composed of mercury andapproximately two percent of cyanide is directed onto the periphery ofthe roller through tubes II arranged within the cylinder as shown andhaving one end fitting in suitable openings provided therefor in theperiphery of the cylinder.

From the above it will be apparent that as the mercury issues throughthe tubes III onto the periphery of the cylinder the mercury will becaused to spread over the periphery of the cylinder through the mediumof the spirally wound wire 3 which latter is preferably German silverwire.

From the above then it will be apparent that in operation there is beingcontinuously applied to the surface of the cylinder a fresh, clean coatof mercury or amalgam for use in separating or amalgamating metals, asgold, silver and copper, from their ores.

In the amalgamating cylinder shown in Figures 7 to 10 inclusive andwhich is designed for vertical disposition within an amalgamator adeparture is made from the structure and as sembly of the horizontalcylinder in that, in the vertical amalgamating cylinder there areprovided at the respective opposite ends of said cylinder partitionplates l2 which with the end plates 6 form chambers which receive themercury ID as shown in Figure 8, the mercury being introduced into thesechambers through passages provided in the spindles I and from feed boxes13 provided on the free ends of the spindles and being preferablyintegral with the spindles.

Each feed box It is provided with a filling opening equipped with asuitable screw plug l4 as shown. i

Also in the periphery of the vertical cylinder there is provided foreach of the mercury chambers a series of drilled holes M through whichthe mercury issues onto the periphery of the cylinder to be spreadthroughout the length of the cylinder by the spirally wound wire 8 as isthought to be apparent.

It will be understood that in regard to the vertical cylinder the samemay be mounted either for rotating movement or may be mounted stationarywithin the amalgamating device as found desirable.

It will be further appreciated that in either form of the invention theperiphery of the cylinder will continuously present a fresh, clean coatof amalgam or mercury for contacting the amalgamable metals thusrendering the cylinder highly eflicient and substantially self-cleaning.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. An amalgamating cylinder having a perforated perimeter and adapted tocontain mercury for issuance through the perforations in the cylinder,and a spreader element in spiral form disposed about the cylinder forspreading the mercury over the perimeter of the cylinder as the mercuryissues from the latter.

2. For use in an amalgamator, a cylinder having provision in theinterior thereof for containing mercury, and also having perforations inthe periphery thereof through which the mercury issues to spread overthe periphery of the cylinder, and a wire for spreading the mercury overthe cylinder spirally wound about the cylinder and anchored at itsrespective opposite ends to the cylinder.

3. For horizontal disposition within an amalgamator, an amalgamatingcylinder adapted to contain mercury and having interiorally thereoftubes one end of which are disposed in openings in the periphery of thecylinder, said tubes serving to direct the mercury contents of thecylinder onto the periphery of the latter, and means spirally disposedabout the periphery of the cylinder for spreading the mercury over theperiphery of the cylinder as it issues onto the periphery of thecylinder.

4. For vertical disposition within an amalgamator, an amalgamatingcylinder having in the respective opposite ends thereof mercurycontaining chambers, and also provided in the periphery thereof withperforations through which the mercury issues onto the periphery of thecylinder from said chambers, and a spreading member spirally disposedabout the periphery of the cylinder for spreading the mercury over theperiphery of the cylinder as it issues thereonto.

EDWIN L. FOSTER.

